Improving healthcare for marginalised communities: A call from GPs for business involvement

Kamilla Kamaruddin is a GP in Transgender Healthcare, with a passion for advocating to reduce health inequities and improve care for marginalised communities. Kamilla is on LinkedIn and X: @drkamillak

I was invited to speak at the Ishkama Global Change (IGC) Annual Global Business Convention 2025, in collaboration with Business and Trade Trinidad & Tobago, at the Port of Spain on July 18th 2025. In my virtual presentation, I addressed a critical issue that shapes the very foundation of our society: the urgent need to improve healthcare access for marginalised communities, highlighting the crucial role that GPs play in delivering equitable care.^1,2 

Many business organisations may wonder why this is relevant to business.

It is well documented that marginalised communities, whether defined by race, socioeconomic status, gender identity, or other factors, face disproportionately higher rates of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer and mental health disorders.³ These individuals often face barriers to accessing care, whether due to financial constraints, lack of available healthcare facilities, or a history of discrimination within the healthcare system.⁴

As a result, these communities experience higher morbidity and mortality rates.⁵ They live shorter, less healthy lives and often encounter the healthcare system at its most urgent—when health has already significantly deteriorated. Imagine, for a moment, the human cost of these health disparities: families torn apart, communities weakened, and lives cut short. But the consequences are not only personal. They extend far beyond the individuals affected. Poor health in marginalised communities leads to greater healthcare costs, a less productive workforce, and a more fragile economy. This is where business organisations can have relevance and impact.⁶

The need to address healthcare disparities is not simply a moral one; it is also a strategic business decision.⁷ Companies that invest in the health and well-being of marginalised communities are laying the foundation for a more productive, resilient, and sustainable workforce. Healthier employees are more engaged, miss fewer days of work, and contribute more effectively to the success of their companies. Additionally, businesses that engage with underserved populations can foster loyalty, expand their customer base, and improve brand reputation. The moral and business cases for supporting healthcare access are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they are complementary.

There are already few concrete examples of how businesses have made a tangible impact on healthcare care. One such example is partnerships between businesses and community health clinics, where corporations sponsor healthcare initiatives that address both physical and mental health challenges. These partnerships reduce the cost burden on underfunded healthcare systems and provide essential care to those who otherwise would have gone without. Technology companies have pioneered the use of telemedicine to bridge the access gap.⁸ This approach proved especially crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic and has since become essential as travel costs and time constraints continue to hinder in-person healthcare access. By supporting telemedicine infrastructure, businesses can help ensure that healthcare is more accessible, even in the most remote areas. Business organisations must also enable easier access to GPs during working hours, especially since onsite GPs are typically more available in high-end corporate settings. Some companies have also taken the initiatives that include free access to mental health resources, wellness programs, and even financial support for medical treatments and preventive care.^9,10

Businesses contribution to improving healthcare access for marginalised communities is multifaceted. By developing strategic partnerships, businesses can work alongside healthcare providers, NGOs, and government agencies to implement health initiatives in underserved areas. Advocating for policy changes from corporate influence can be powerful. By aligning business interests with social good, companies can play a significant role in shaping public health policy.

Extending their focus on employee health beyond the office walls is important. More importantly, ensuring that employees from marginalised communities feel supported and heard is a critical step toward achieving health equity in the workplace. Many communities suffer from lack of health education. Businesses can sponsor health-awareness campaigns, providing resources and creating platforms for education. This helps individuals make informed choices about their health. Businesses can play an instrumental role in promoting diversity within healthcare organisations, from sponsoring scholarships for underrepresented groups to supporting mentorship and leadership development programs.^11,12,13

The moral argument goes beyond ‘enlightened self interest.’ Improving healthcare for marginalised communities is not just about fulfilling corporate social responsibility (CSR). It is also about ensuring that society thrives in a way that benefits all. As we move toward a more inclusive and equitable world, the well-being of marginalised communities will ultimately benefit everyone from individuals to businesses to entire nations. Businesses that step up don’t just respond to societal needs, they actively shape the future, and create a thriving environment where all individuals have the opportunity to be treated with respect and dignity.^14,15,16

References:

1. www.ishkama.co.uk/igc-convention-2025 [accessed 4/9/25]
2. Williams, D. R., & Jackson, P. B. (2005). Social sources of racial disparities in health. Health Affairs, 24(2), 325-334. DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.24.2.325 PMID: 15757915
3. Braveman, P. (2014). Health disparities and health equity: Concepts and measurement. PMID: 16533114 DOI: 10.1146/annurev.publhealth.27.021405.102103. Annu Rev Public Health 2006:27:167-94.
4. Williams, D. R., & Mohammed, S. A. (2009). Discrimination and racial disparities in health: evidence and needed research. J Behav Med. 2008 Nov 22;32(1):20. DOI: 10.1007/s10865-008-9185-0 PMID: 19030981
5. Wendy L Macias-Konstantopoulos , Kimberly A Collins , Rosemarie Diaz , Herbert C Duber , Courtney D Edwards , Antony P Hsu , Megan L Ranney , Ralph J Riviello , Zachary S Wettstein , Carolyn J Sachs Race, Healthcare, and Health Disparities: A Critical Review and Recommendations for Advancing Health Equity PMID: 37788031 West J Emerg Med. 2023 Aug 8;24(5):906–918. DOI: 10.5811/westjem.58408
6. Kosa, S. M., et al. (2013). The effect of healthcare disparities on mortality in marginalized populations. American Journal of Public Health, 103(3), 519-525.
7. Green, L. A., & Pawson, R. (2011). Business solutions for improving health equity: A case study approach. Journal of Health Economics, 30(3), 519-526. PubMed ID: 21298862 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2011.04.007
8. Bashshur, R. L., et al. (2016). The empirical foundations of telemedicine interventions for chronic disease management. Telemed J E Health 2014 Sep;20(9):769-800 PMID: 24968105 DOI: 10.1089/tmj.2014.9981
9. Ron Z Goetzel 1, Ronald J Ozminkowski .The health and cost benefits of work site health-promotion programs .Annu Rev Public Health 2008:29:303-23. PMID: 18173386 DOI: 10.1146/annurev.publhealth.29.020907.090930
10. Goetzel, R. Z., et al. (2014. Do workplace health promotion (wellness) programs work? Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2014 Sep;56(9):927-34. DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000000276 PMID: 25153303
11. Schneider, KR, Bellows, A, Downs, S, Bell, W, Ambikapathi, R, Nordhagen, S, Branca, F, Masters, WA & Fanzo, JC 2023, Inequity in access to healthy foods. The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Food System Economics Commission.
12. Wilkinson, Richard & Marmot, Michael. (‎2003)‎. Social determinants of health: the solid facts, 2nd ed. World Health Organization. Regional Office for Europe https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/326568
13. Chin, M.H. Creating the Business Case for Achieving Health Equity. J GEN INTERN MED 31, 792–796 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-016-3604-7
14. Chazeman S Jackson , J Nadine Gracia .Addressing Health and Health-Care Disparities: The Role of a Diverse Workforce and the Social Determinants of Health Public Health Rep 2014 Jan-Feb;129 (Suppl 2):57–61. DOI: 10.1177/00333549141291S211 PMID: 24385666
15. Wendy J. Werner (Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives Addressing Social Exclusion in Bangladesh J Health Popul Nutr2009 Aug;27(4):545–562. DOI: 10.3329/jhpn.v27i4.3401 PMID: 19761088
16. Intissar Haddiya , Taha Janfi, Mohamed Guedira Application of the Concepts of Social Responsibility, Sustainability, and Ethics to Healthcare Organizations Risk Manag Healthc Policy. 2020 Aug 5; 13:1029–1033. DO!: 10.2147/RMHP.S258984 PMID: 32801975

Featured Photo by micheile dot com on Unsplash